[Neurologic manifestations in a child of a mother with gestational herpes]

Herpes gestationis in the neonate is usually associated with an increased risk of premature birth and/or low birth weight for gestational age (GA) and sometimes skin lesions. Neurologic manifestations are nos described in these babies.

A boy was born at 35 weeks of GA from a mother who developed skin eruption typical of herpes gestationis. His weight was 2320 g and his height was 46 cm. He had transient respiratory distress syndrome and was given antibiotics due to suspected group B streptococcus infection. He developed on day 3 skin vesiculous eruption which disappeared within 3 days and neurologic manifestations: hypertonia and hyperkinesis, abnormal EEG. The CSF was normal. The manifestations spontaneously disappeared within 5 days. The herpes gestationis factor was present in both mother and infant.

A relationship between the maternal herpes gestationis and neonatal neurologic manifestations is possible; there was no other known causes for the transient neurological disease.